ILL Catocala action finally heating up:)

[Deleted]

While this summer has been poor, to say the least, regarding daytime collecting, the night action has saved the season.

While sugaring, the following were taken.

Aug. 11 (9:00 to 11:30 pm)
C. amatrix 1---saw 3
C. neogama 2---saw 3
C. ilia (form satanas) 1---saw 6+ of reg. forms
C. cerogama 1---saw 4
C. cara 0----saw 1

Aug. 14 (9:30pm to 1:00 am)
C. cara 4---saw 5
C. residua 1
C. cerogama 2 ---saw 5 or so
C. ilia 2---saw 5
C. obscura 1
Euparthenos nubilis 1
Sphinx kalmiae 1
***btw*** I'd like to mention that on this night, I had the distinct pleasure of collecting with a new acquaintance visiting from down south. Ricky Patterson went along and we had a fine time walking the sugar route over and over again.

Aug. 16 (10:30pm to 1:30am)
C. ilia 2 ----saw many (10+)
C. cara 3 --- saw 5
C. amatrix 3 ---saw 5
C. cerogama 2 ---saw 6+
C. retecta 2
C. innubens 1
Euparthenos nubilis 2---saw 3
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Note: a brighter moon did not hurt the collecting. Around 45 trees were sugared around forest opening(clearing with forest all around) and path into thick of woods. When started, temps were low seventies and then slipped to the mid sixties for most of the time. Winds were light to calm.

For those who might ask, many of what I caught are papered so that when visitors come along, I can offer specimens from here for their collection. I recently received several papered Cats that were 'gems' from Ricky when he visited.

Hopefully this August will continue to produce.

[prillbug2]

Sounds familiar to me. But many of mine were either collected at building lights, or at sugar water traps over the years. Catocala whitneyi and nuptialis will be flying now, too, if you haven't found them. But you have to be in a prairie or close, with the host plants present for them, Bill.
Jeff Prill

[bugboys3]

Last night was a good night for sugaring in Wisconsin.
Warm and slightly humid.
My son & I were out from 9:30- 11:30 pm and caught the following:

3 C. aholibah
3 C. cara
1 C. amatrix
1 C. cerogama
1 C. serene (caught at MV light)
1 C. residua (caught at MV light)

By the way Bill G. your mix worked great
Thanks

[Deleted]

Great to hear the mix worked for you

It must be terrific to go mothing with your son. Cherish the times together which I'm sure you have.

Hey, I'm not sure, but could you take a pic of the C. ahobilah you caught? Why, while I'm not Mr. Catocala, I think that that species is largely one that lives in CA-AZ-CO in the western US and would not be flying in WI. I am not sure, but thought it was worth checking out.

I even got a C. relicta here in my backyard the other day. I was thrilled. I may be going to WI in a week or so for a night to do lights and sugar depending on the weather. Have you seen any C. concumbens or relicta on the wing lately in WI?

[oehlkew]

Chris,
Bill Garthe is correct. Catocala aholibah is not recorded in
Wisconsin. The furthest east it has been documented is in
North and South Dakota. It is primarily a western species.
I would not be surprised if the ones you think are aholibah are actually ilia. Many of the Catocala are quite similar in appearance.
My Catocala of Wisconsin page is at
www.silkmoths.bizland.com/Wisconsincatocala.htm
Happy to try to help with identifications if you post images or send them to me with data as jpg attachments.
Bill Oehlke

[prillbug2]

Hey, Bill, I have seen Catocala relicta at a light in Bartonville, Illinois. I had my net, but it got away. Any place where there is aspen, or white birch, should yield a rare record for Central Illinois. There have also been a few records in or around McDonough County.
Jeff Prill

[oehlkew]

Thanks Jeff,
I have added Catocala relicta to the Illinois Catocala page for McDonough County.
Please let me know if you have any from Peoria County that are not on the Peoria list.

Bill Oehlke

[bugboys3]

Bill, we caught a C. concumbens in Gogebic county, MI 2 weeks ago on the side of a park building. C. relicta is one that we have yet to see.

As far as the C. aholibah I thought I had it ID'd correctly as it looks nothing like the C. ilia we had caught earlier this season. But I will post pictures when they come off the boards next week.

[prillbug2]

Catocala aholibah could be a stray. I wouldn't doubt it, they are strong fliers and with the weather patterns the past few months, I wouldn't doubt that it could have been blown east to Wisconsin.
Jeff Prill

[Deleted]

While a stray (1) 'could' be found that far east, he did say he caught 3. Getting 3 strays at once is a bit remote for odds. I agree with Bill O. They may very well be C. ilia. Remember that that goofy C. ilia has numerous forms and is very variable. My drawer of C. ilia has all kinds of FW pattern variations.

Pics next week should help out the detemination.

[prillbug2]

Yeah, I know, I have all of the forms of C. ilia. Just throwing out a possibility that maybe one of them is aholobah.
Jeff Prill

[kingha]

Baiting for Catocala has been good here in Michigan this month.

Otsego County, Gaylord, MI

Catocala;
unijuga
semirelicta
briseis
relicta
cerogama
ultronta
blandula
sordida
antinympha


Clinton County, St. John’s, MI

Catocala;
crataegi
blandula
grynea,
piatrix
subnata
neogama
cerogama
amatrix
cara
ilia
innubens

[oehlkew]

Thanks for posting, Harry.
I have updated your page at
www.silkmoths.bizland.com/HarryKingcollection.htm
Bill Oehlke

[bugboys3]

After taking the moths off the mounting boards I took another
careful look at the moth photographers site. I agree with Bill O. that they are most likely C. ilia not aholibah. Sorry for the excitement.

Attachments:

[bugboys3]

The following specimens were all caught on the same night.

Attachments: